Arc Raiders Surpasses Call of Duty Launch in Steam Players

Embark Studios’ extraction shooter, Arc Raiders, has rapidly gained traction, reaching a record-breaking 481,966 concurrent players on Steam this weekend. This number marks a significant milestone for the new title, surpassing even the launch weekend peaks of other major franchises, including Call of Duty’s latest installment, Black Ops 7. While both games drew substantial attention, Arc Raiders’ player count dwarfed that of its established competitor by a large margin, potentially signalling a shift in gaming preferences on the platform.
Arc Raiders is a fresh addition to the growing extraction shooter genre, a category popularized by titles like Escape from Tarkov and The Cycle. The game is currently available exclusively on Steam and the Epic Games Store for PC, which has allowed it to achieve its substantial peak on Steam alone. In contrast, Black Ops 7, the latest in the Call of Duty series, launched with a peak of 100,332 players on the same platform. This figure is notably lower than past Call of Duty* launches on Steam, which typically see much higher numbers.

While the differences in platform availability between the two titles are evident—Arc Raiders is available on fewer digital storefronts than Black Ops 7—this distinction alone doesn’t fully explain the disparity in player engagement. Black Ops 7 was also released on multiple platforms, including Battle. net, the Microsoft Store, and was available on PC Game Pass from day one, which gives it a broader audience base beyond Steam. Historically, Call of Duty has dominated on Steam, even with the additional availability on other platforms.

The Black Ops 7 launch figures are particularly striking when compared to the franchise’s recent Steam releases. For example, Black Ops 6—which was also available on Game Pass from launch—managed to secure a Steam launch peak of over 300,000 players. This marked a sharp decline from Modern Warfare 3’s launch peak of 190,000 concurrent players earlier in 2023. The drop in numbers across consecutive releases could be seen as an indication of shifting trends in player interest, with Arc Raiders now emerging as a fierce competitor to Call of Duty’s dominance on Steam.

Several factors may have contributed to the success of Arc Raiders. As a free-to-play game, it is more accessible to a wider audience than Black Ops 7, which requires a full purchase on various platforms. Additionally, Arc Raiders focuses on co-op and extraction-based gameplay, a style that has become increasingly popular with gamers looking for team-based tactical experiences. The game’s emphasis on cooperation, strategic depth, and fast-paced action has struck a chord with players seeking something new, which could explain its rapid rise in popularity.

The impact of Arc Raiders on Call of Duty’s Steam performance also raises questions about the franchise’s future in the extraction shooter space. Historically, Call of Duty has been one of the most dominant first-person shooter franchises, with each annual release attracting millions of players. However, the growing popularity of Arc Raiders and similar games suggests that the Call of Duty formula may need to evolve further to keep up with changing player preferences.
Arc Raiders*’ success is a significant win for Embark Studios, which is relatively new to the game development scene. The studio’s ability to create a hit in a competitive genre highlights its potential to capture the attention of mainstream gamers. This success also serves as a reminder of the volatile nature of the gaming industry, where new titles can quickly rise to prominence and challenge established giants.